OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation of histologically proven prostatitis with the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA), prostate volume, PSA density (PSAD), international prostate symptom score (IPSS), maximum flow rate (Qmax) and post-void residual volume (PVR) in men with symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSTotally 673 patients surgically treated for BPH were divided into Groups A and B in accordance with histological findings, the former including those with histological prostatitis, and the latter without it. Comparisons were made between the two groups in the PSA level, prostate volume, PSAD, IPSS, Qmax and PVR.

RESULTSThe PSA level, prostate volume, IPSS and PVR were significantly higher in Group A ([5.64 +/- 2.48] microg/L, [43.66 +/- 13.11] ml, 24.72 +/- 5.39 and [124.90 +/- 49.80] ml) than in B ([4.97 +/- 1.99] microg/L, [40.41 +/- 11.44] ml, 23.40 +/- 6.21 and [112.73 +/- 50.03] ml) (P<0.05), while Qmax markedly lower in the former ([6.94 +/- 3.23] ml/s) than in the latter ([7.75 +/- 3.52] ml/s) (P<0.05), but PSAD showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (0.129 +/- 0.048 vs 0.123 +/- 0.034, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONHistological prostatitis can significantly increase the PSA level, prostate volume, IPSS and PVR, and reduce the Qmax of the patient, but is not correlated with PSAD. It is an important factor influencing the clinical progression of BPH.